Dispensing valve



1968 E. NOYACK ETAL 3,419,249

DISPENSING VALVE Filed Feb. 1, 1967 7 Sheet of 2 INVENTORS EDWARD NOYACK EDWIN L. TERRILL ATTORNEYS Dec. 31, 1968 E. NOYACK ETAL DISPENSING VALVE Filed Feb. 1, 1967 Sheet 2 of 2 INVENTORS EDWARD NOYACK EDWIN L. TERRILL ATTORNEYS United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A valve for a small fluid container, where the valve is adapted to dispense a limited amount of fluid from the container into the palm of the hand of the user, wherein the valve comprises an elongated stem with its ends spaced from and guided by apertured transverse body wall portions, and having an intermediate flanged valve head.

This invention relates to a valve for a fluid container, and is particularly directed to an inexpensive yet highly reliable dispensing mechanism to permit the dispensing of a limited amount of fluid from a container into the palm of the hand of the user.

The primary objective of the invention is the provision of an operatively reliable fluid dispensing valve of maximum design simplicity and minimum manufacturing cost. The dispensing valve is intended primarily for application to such uses as cosmetic lotions, for example hand 10- tions or after shave lotions, in which it is desired to provide means for measuring into the palm of the hand of the user a small amount of lotion or the like. If the fluid container is adapted to be mounted upon a wall or other permanent support, the arrangement permits one-hand operation in dispensing a desired amount of fluid into the palm of the user.

The invention is illustrated by the embodiments specifically shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinafter.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the assembled valve, the parts being shown in vertical section;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the valve shown in FIG. 1, the several parts being shown in perspective;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing a valve of modified design;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the several components of the valve seen in FIG. 3.

The dispensing valve assembly 10 appearing in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a tubular body shell 12 having sections 14, 16, of larger and smaller diameter, respectively, joined by an intermediate shoulder 18 formed by the stepped configuration. Smaller section 16 is closed at its outer end by an integral transverse wall 20 in which there is provided a central aperture 22.

Assembly 10 incorporates a columnar or elongated valve stem 24 which is partly received in the body shell, another part 26 of which projects outwardly through aperture 22, forming a loose fit in the aperture. The stem is formed intermediate its length with an annular flange 28 which is disposed within the smaller body shell section 16 and has a rim about its periphery, facing the integral transverse wall 20.

A separable transverse wall member consisting of an inner shell 32 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 is positioned in the body shell section 14. This inner shell takes the form of a drawn metal cup having rolled threads 34 in its sidewall adapted to make threaded engagement with threads on the mouth of the container to which the valve is to be attached. Inner shell 32 is sized to make a force fit interiorly of the larger body shell section 14 whereby the bottom wall 36 of shell 32 forms a separable transverse wall abutting against shoulder 18 of shell 12. This bottom wall is pierced to provide a generally square edged aperture 38.

The inner end of the valve stem 24 is reduced, constituting a pin or pilot 40 which is of generally circular crosssection and of appropriate length and diameter to be loosely received in aperture 38, allowing free axial motion of the valve stem while restraining substantial lateral movement of it.

A resilient annular sealing grommet 42 loosely encircles the valve stem, being disposed between its annular flange 28 and the integral transverse wall 20 of body shell 12. The grommet is of larger diameter than aperture 22 in the wall, as is also the diameter of flange 28.

A compression spring 44 is confined about the inner end of stem 24 between flange 28 and wall 36 of inner shell 32. Thus the stem is normally biased to compress grommet 42 between the flange and end wall of the body shell to form a fluid tight seal about the aperture in that wall. When it is desired to effect dispensing of fluid from a container to which the valve is attached, it is merely necessary to invert the container, then press upwardly on the projecting portion 26 of the valve stem which thus allows fluid to flow around the pilot 40 and around grommet 42 outwardly along the surface of projecting portion 26 of the valve stem. Where the dispensing container is arranged to be permanently mounted to a wall or other supporting surface in inverted position, it will be apparent that the unit is readily operated by one hand to effect dispensing of the fluid contents.

In the modified form of valve assembly 50 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the construction is essentially identical to that already described except that the lower skirt portion 52 of the stepped body shell 54 is adapted to be permanently secured, as by crimping, to the neck or mouth of a suitable container. In this case, no inner shell is employed, but a stiff washer 56 forms a transverse wall member corresponding to the wall 36 of the previously described embodiment. Washer 56 has a central aperture 58 which loosely receives the pin or pilot portion at the inner end of stem 60. A resilient gasket 62 is disposed between shoulder 64 of body shell 50 and washer 56, and the washer-gasket assembly is held in abutment with the shoulder temporarily, pending placement of the valve assembly on the mouth of a container and crimping of the skirt portion 52 to secure the assembly finally in place. Gasket 62 is also apertured in registry with the aperture of washer 56.

In both of the embodiments shown in the drawings a sealing gasket of resilient material is provided at the inner face of the separable transverse wall member. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 this latter gasket is designated at 46; in FIGS. 3 and 4 at 66.

The dispensing valve here disclosed affords a device of extreme mechanical simplicity yet of reliable operation. As specifically shown, the projecting portion of the valve stem is cored out as this is of advantage in preventing the formation of a drop at the end of the stem (in the inverted position of the container and valve). Other stem configurations are possible, of course, but lack this feature. In similar manner, the margin of the aperture in the integral transverse wall may be flared outwardly as illustrated in the drawings to afford a smoother bearing for the projecting valve stem and to ensure the flow of fluid released outwardly along the surface of the stem rather than creep along the outer face of the transverse wall. Again this feature may be omitted without departing from the broader aspects of the invention. The accompanying claims are accordingly intended to be constrned to cover the specific arrangement here shown as well as obvious equivalent structures.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing valve for a fluid dispensing container wherein the valve comprises the following component members in cooperative assembly:

(a) a stepped tubular body shell providing two sections of larger and smaller diameter and having a shoulder formed between said sections by the stepped configuration, said section of larger diameter being open at its outer end and said section of smaller diameter having an integral transverse wall closing its outer end and having an aperture therethrough;

(b) an elongated valve stem partially received in said body shell and partially projecting axially therefrom through the aperture in said integral transverse wall, said stern and the margin of said aperture forming a loose fit to allow fluid to pass between them while restraining substantial lateral motion of said stern, said stern having intermediate its length an annular flange disposed within said section of smaller diameter, said flange having a rim about its periphery facing said integral transverse wall and larger than the diameter of the aperture therein,

() a separable transverse wall member positioned in the shell section of larger diameter, and means retaining said separable transverse wall member in abutment with the shoulder of said body shell, said separable wall member comprising a stiff, rigid portion and an outwardly disposed resilient flexible portion, both of which are centrally aperture-d in alignment with the aperture of said integral transverse wall;

(d) a resilient gasket loosely encircling said valve stem between said annular flange and integral transversal wall, and spring means between said annular flange and stiff separable transverse wall member, whereby said stem is normally biased to compress said gasket between said flange and integral transverse wall to form a fluid tight seal about the aperture in said integral transverse wall;

(e) said valve stem having on its inner end a pilot portion slidable received in the aperture in said separable wall member and forming a loose fit therein allowing fluid to pass but restraining substantial lateral movement of said stem relative to said body shell;

(f) said stem being axially depressable against the bias of said spring to break the seal and to allow passage of fluid from the interior of the body shell to and along the surface of the projecting portion of the stem.

2. A dispensing valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said separable transverse wall member is formed by the bottom wall of a drawn metal cup whose side walls make a force fit with the corresponding walls of said larger body shell section.

3. A dispensing valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the margin of the aperture in said integral transverse wall is flared outwardly along the adjacent surface of the projecting portion of the stem.

4. A dispensing valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the projecting portion of said stem is tubular and open at its outer end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,710,594 6/1955 Thompson 251-339 X 3,128,924 4/1964 Gorrnan 2225l8 X FOREIGN PATENTS 74,465 7/1952 Denmark.

ARNOLD ROSENTHAL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. ZZZ-402.25 

